Kukla's Korner Hockey

At a time when the Islanders have been searching for more offense, agent Mark Gandler said earlier in the day that former first-round draft pick Sean Bergenheim, who opted to play in Russia rather than accept what he believed was a lowball offer by the Islanders, would like to return and is willing to apologize to owner Charles Wang. But if the owner won't bend his rule against signing players who weren't in training camp, Gandler said Bergenheim will request a trade.
When Bergenheim held out, the Islanders wrote him off for the season and signed veteran forward Richard Park. Two or three days before last Thursday's season opener, Gandler spoke with Islanders general manager Garth Snow and was told there will be no exceptions to Wang's policy.